Jimmy Krupka is a TOKO Wax Room contributor, an independent World Cup skier and both a former NCAA skier and U.S. Ski Team member.
Are your skis sprouting little white hairs? Don’t panic — it happens to all of us at some point.
Usually called “base burn,” it is common — and sometimes unavoidable — for skis’ bases to go a bit gray in the colder months, especially underfoot, where friction is highest. A fast, healthy ski has a shiny, black base — and with the right care, you can keep it that way.
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You can get yourself off to a strong start by putting your skis through multiple wax cycles the day you get them. At the very least, it is worth waxing your skis once, letting the wax cool, scraping and brushing, then putting down a second coat before the skis even touch snow.
Next, wax your skis every day. No exceptions. Hot wax will always be much better than liquid wax for both preventing and remedying base burn. Although I almost exclusively use liquid wax on my slalom skis — repeated heat from an iron can cook the ski and affect the lamination — I still use hot wax every once in a while when the bases start to get dry.
It also helps to use a slightly colder wax on all training days. If the snow temperature calls for red, try mixing some blue into your wax cycle. If it calls for blue, add a little extra-cold powder, especially underfoot.
Finally, make sure to use a copper brush before waxing. Sometimes, even a steel brush. You’ll notice this removes some of the white hairs from your burned base. Just as importantly, brushing opens up the base structure, allowing the hot wax to penetrate deeper and last longer.
My last tip is more of a theory than proven science, but I think it’s worth sharing. I’ve noticed that my slip skis always burn more quickly than my race skis, suggesting that sideways friction accelerates base burn. Which means — and I’m sure you’ve already heard this from your coach, so I apologize for repeating it — try arcing more turns in the course instead of sliding.
Arc to save your bases.
— Jimmy K
About the Author: Jimmy Krupka
